English Literature

Modern Theories of Criticism: A Review

Modern literary theory and criticism is the study and analysis of literature through the lens of numerous theoretical frameworks developed in the 20th century. This method incorporates various schools of thought, including Marxist, Feminist, Psychoanalytic, and Deconstructionist theory, which provides a critical lens for examining literary texts and illuminating their underlying meanings and societal implications. This introduction's goal is to give a thorough review of the fundamental ideas, significant people, and significant historical trends in Modern Literary Theory and Criticism, emphasizing their importance and influence on the subject of literary studies.

The analysis and interpretation of literature through literary criticism is a crucial component of literary studies. Over time, several theories of criticism have developed, each presenting a distinctive viewpoint on how to read and analyze literature. From T.S. Eliot's "Tradition and Individual Talent" (1919) and Matthew Arnold's "A Study of Poetry" (1888) to the most recent notions of digital humanities, this presentation covers some of the most important theories of criticism.

I.A. Richards' writings, which introduced the practical criticism method in his book "Practical Criticism" (1929), are among the sources of the earliest theories of criticism. The development of criticism was greatly influenced by William Empson's "Seven Types of Ambiguity" (1930). Later, in their writings, William K. Wimsatt and Monroe Beardsley developed the ideas of deliberate and emotional fallacies.

The 1930s saw the introduction of Allen Tate's "tension" theory in poetry, which focused on a text's extension (literal meaning) and intention (metaphorical meaning). In "The Language of Paradox, The Well Wrought Urn" (1947) and "Modern Poetry and the Tradition" (1939), Cleanth Brooks concentrated on the use of contradiction in poetry.

Northrop Frye (1940–1955) and Maud Bodkin (1934) created archetypal criticism, which focuses on the analysis of archetypes and symbols in literature. Archetypal criticism has benefited greatly from Frye's thesis on the mythos grid, which describes the recurring themes and patterns in literature.

Stylistics, the study of literary style, emerged in the second half of the 20th century as a result of structuralism and semiotics. A significant influence on the criticism field was also made by Jacques Derrida's poststructuralism and deconstruction. 

Also gaining popularity was eco-feminism, which challenges the patriarchal norms ingrained in society, and eco-criticism, which examines the connection between literature and the environment.

Thinkers like Homi Bhabha, Gayatri Spivak, and Edward Said all contributed to the development of postcolonialism, which is the study of the cultural, political, and economic impacts of colonialism. Globalization and climate change have recently come into prominence, giving rise to modern conceptions of cultural studies.

Another important topic of study is digital humanities, which uses technology to process and evaluate literary materials. Critics now face additional difficulties as a result of the rise of generative literature, which uses computers to make works. Jean-Pierre Balpe has provided an overview of the rules and procedures of generative literature. Unconscious bias and the morality of robots are issues that need more research because of the usage of AI in digital humanities.

In summary, the evolution of criticism across time has added to our understanding of literature in several ways. The field has continuously changed to keep up with the times, from Arnold and Eliot's early writings to the newest notions of digital humanities. The new issues raised by AI and the expanding impact of technology on the sector only serve to highlight the continuing value of criticism in our quickly transforming world.